UCLA announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs last week that allows the university to continue its lease of the Jackie Robinson Stadium while providing millions in funding for veterans resources.
The agreement follows a lawsuit filed last year by a group of veterans that alleged the VA prioritized leasing of its land to commercial tenants over housing homeless veterans. UCLA’s use of the Jackie Robinson Stadium is a prime example of the suit’s central argument.
The agreement with the VA, which is pending congressional approval, raises the stadium’s annual rent from $60,000 to $300,000. Also, the university has agreed to provide the equivalent of $2 million to launch various recreation and mentorship programs.
However, in order to further make up for taking advantage of the VA’s property for over three decades, UCLA should institute educational programs for veterans on its own campus and the VA’s West Los Angeles campus as soon as possible.
The VA settled the lawsuit last January and agreed to add 1,200 units of permanent housing for veterans along with health care, housing, education and other services.
UCLA also plans to increase its aid to veterans. Among other actions, the university hopes to develop a family resource center, fund programs for mental health and addiction treatment and provide experts for the campus’ revitalization.
While these are definite improvements to the facility, the implementation of the VA and UCLA plan is subject to congressional approval of the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015, which may take a great deal of time in today’s fractious political climate.
Providing educational resources on our campus is something UCLA could do almost immediately to help veterans while solidifying UCLA as a bastion of service and education in the community.
At least for now, UCLA seems to be saying all the right things.
“We’re confident that together we will make a bigger difference in veterans’ lives than either of us would alone,” said Chancellor Gene Block in announcing the partnership.
While that statement may be true, UCLA needs to take immediate action to ensure that Block’s words do not amount to an empty promise. Both the VA and UCLA should not wait for congressional procedures to run their course, instead taking steps now to effect real change in the lives of local veterans.
For decades, UCLA benefited from dirt-cheap lease rates for a baseball stadium on a facility that was negligent in providing for veterans and their families. It is paramount that UCLA institutes programs to benefit the lives of people from whom the university profited. Only if UCLA does so will it be able to turn over a new page in its relationship with veterans.
UCLA provides educational resources to the entire LA community. It’s called UCLA extension. And someone needs to pay for those classes. Maybe the Daily Bruin editorial staff can triple their tuition payments to cover some of it.
Also, the previous contract for Jackie Robinson stadium was negotiated with the VA. UCLA did not have any power to force any rent contract on the federal government. It was that way since at least 1981. And regarding UCLA baseball providing “negligent” benefits, that depends on whether or not you think baseball can provide value.